Drake named a top 200 school, and #1 in Iowa for “Best Value School” Drake University was once again ranked among the top 200 best colleges in the nation — this time in the U.S. News and World Report national university rankings, competing against the largest universities in the country. The news comes just weeks after receiving similar accolades from The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 College Pulse Ranking. U.S. News also ranked Drake as the #1 private school in Iowa within its national university rankings. According to the U.S. News national university ranking methodology*, Drake also secured high marks in several...
Drake Welcomes the Most Diverse Entering Student Class in University History
Highest percentage of diversity, first-generation, and Pell-eligible students on record As students across the country settle into a new school year, Drake University is welcoming new undergraduate students to campus — and it is the most diverse group of students in the University’s 143-year history. The University is proud to report the diversity of the new undergraduate student population is 37.4%. This includes entering first-year (EFR) and transfer students seeking bachelor’s degrees at Drake as well as first-year and transfer students seeking associate degrees from Drake’s John Dee Bright College. Specifically, the diversity of EFR students joining Drake is 35.3%,...
The Wall Street Journal ranks Drake University as #1 Private School in Iowa
Return on investment of a Drake education among top 3 percent in the nation Drake University was ranked the top private school in Iowa for the second year in a row and among the top 200 best colleges in the U.S. by The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 College Pulse Rankings. Among all Iowa schools, Drake ranked highest in Salary Impact Score (a rating of graduate salaries relative to the cost of attending), as well as the Value Added to Graduate Salary score (value added to graduates’ median salary attributable to attending the college). These rankings from The Wall Street Journal...
Official News Releases
Senacyt and Drake University Formalize Collaboration to Advance Technology and AI Education in Panama
Drake University and Panama’s National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Senacyt) have formalized a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening academic quality and technological innovation. The agreement, signed by Dr. Eduardo Ortega Barría, National Secretary of Senacyt, and Marty Martin, President of Drake University, establishes a roadmap for joint efforts to promote and implement Panama’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, aligned with the country’s efforts to enhance its technological innovation and digital capabilities. “Responsible global citizenship is written into our mission at Drake University, and we approach global engagement in a way that leverages our key strengths to address specific...
ITS News & Announcements
Fiscal Year End Maintenance: 6/30 – 7/1
Due to required end of fiscal year maintenance, Banner Admin Pages, TouchNet, and portions of Self Service will be unavailable beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025 through 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience you experience. If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall. To see the full 2025 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule.
Planned Maintenance on Sun 6/29: ITS databases
ITS staff will be performing maintenance on our Oracle databases this Sunday, June 29 between 7 – 9 a.m. During this time, Drake systems including Self Service, Banner, ProcessMaker, eTranscripts, Touchnet, and others may be unavailable. This work is necessary to maintain the security of University data. If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall. To see the full 2025 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule.
Law School Spotlights
Reigniting the Fire: Finding Purpose in the Children’s Rights Clinic
Mackenzie Roberts is a rising third-year law student at Drake Law School. She was a student attorney in the Children’s Rights Clinic during the Spring 2025 semester where she represented children in juvenile delinquency, child welfare, minor guardianship, and immigration matters before the Polk County Juvenile Court and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. After my 1L year, I felt burnt out. The whirlwind of cold calls, casebooks, and curve-induced self-doubt had left me wondering if the version of me who came to law school, driven by a desire to fight for others, had gotten lost somewhere along the way. But...
Law School News
Drake Law Establishes Sabrina Ray Endowed Fund to Advance Children’s Rights Advocacy
Drake University Law School has received a $300,000 gift from the Sease & Wadding Law Firm to support the Children’s Rights Clinic, in memory of Sabrina Ray, a 16-year-old whose death in 2017 reinforced the need for continued evaluation and improvement of Iowa’s child welfare system. The donation is part of a $4.175 million settlement between the State of Iowa and a sibling of Sabrina Ray. This gift has established the new Sabrina Ray Endowed Fund for the Children’s Rights Clinic at Drake Law School. The fund will support two key initiatives that honor Sabrina’s life and strengthen legal advocacy...
School of Journalism and Mass Communication Dean Catherine Staub Announces Retirement
The following message, announcing Dean Catherine Staub‘s decision to step down as dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, was sent from Provost Sue Mattison to the Drake University campus community on June 18, 2025. Dear faculty, staff, and students, I am writing to share that Dr. Catherine Staub, dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, will be stepping down from her role as dean effective June 30, 2026. Dean Staub will serve in a consulting role to the new SJMC dean until her official retirement on September 1, 2026. She and I have been actively discussing...
Drake’s Master of Science in Leadership Demonstrates the Power of Perspective-Taking Communication
What happens when two people sit back-to-back and attempt to communicate the essence of an image without revealing what the image actually depicts? This simple yet profound exercise, known as “Through Another’s Eyes,” reveals a fundamental truth about leadership communication that extends far beyond the classroom. Extensive leadership research confirms that communication remains one of the most important things leaders do. However, recent studies indicate that 67% of organizational project failures can be attributed to ineffective leadership communication, highlighting a critical gap in how leaders connect with their teams. “Through Another’s Eyes” is an activity in our LEAD 201 course...
Law School Spotlights
Drake Law Alumni Excel in Judicial Clerkship Opportunities
Judicial clerkships provide invaluable, behind-the-scenes insight into how judges think, write, and decide cases – an experience that has proven pivotal for several recent Drake Law graduates. As some alumni reflect on how these roles have shaped their legal careers, the newest graduates are eagerly preparing to begin clerkships of their own. Conner Greene, JD’24, and Ami Penquite, JD’24, began clerking for the Iowa Supreme Court last fall. Greene works with Justice McDonald, while Penquite serves Chief Justice Christensen. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a law clerk with the Iowa Supreme Court,” said Greene. “I feel so fortunate...
Drake University Announces Innovative Extended Doctor of Pharmacy Pathway
Flexible, extended pathway offers work, family balance for aspiring pharmacists (DES MOINES, Iowa—June 12, 2025) Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is pleased to announce the launch of a new, flexible extended Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) pathway. This innovative six-year program is designed for individuals who aspire to earn their PharmD degree while balancing part-time work, family responsibilities, or other personal commitments. The extended PharmD pathway offers a more flexible schedule compared to the traditional four-year PharmD program. The extended pathway is an excellent option for pharmacy technicians or others working in the health field who may hold...
Drake University Launches Master of Science in Montessori Education for DMPS Teachers
Drake-DMPS partnership to support growth in DMPS Montessori options Drake University announced today the launch of a new Master of Science in Montessori Education program—an initiative designed to support teachers within Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS). The three-year agreement with DMPS is exclusive to Drake University and will serve a new cohort of at least 20 current DMPS teachers each year for the next three years, beginning with the Fall 2025 semester. The new program will address the growing need for Montessori-certified educators in Iowa’s capital city following the recent announcement of DMPS transitioning Jackson Elementary to a Montessori school–bringing...